Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2049735
PORTABLE RADIO EQUIPMENT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present lnvention relates to a portable radio
equipment having a removable power unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. lA and Fig. lB are clrcult dlagrams showing a
portable radio equipment according to an embodiment of the
invention.
Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B are external views.
Fig. 3 8nd Fig. 4 are circuit diagrams showing other
embodlments of the invention.
Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a conventlonal
portable radio equipment.
DESCRIPTION OF T~E BACKCROUND ART
Fig. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a prior-art
portable radio equipment. As illustrated, the portable
radio equipment comprises a radio equipment main unit 1 and
a power unit 2 which ls configured so that it can be mounted
to and removed from the main unit 1.
The main unit 1 contains a transmit audio clrcuit 3
modulating a transmit speech signal and sending it to a
transmitter section, not shown. A microphone 4 is provided
to receive transmit speech. A power circult 5 recelves
power supply and distributing lt withln the maln unit 1.
The main unit 1 has a power supply terminal 6 and a ground
terminal 7.
2049735
The power unit 2 contains a battery 8 serving as a
power source providing power to the power circuit 5 of the
maln unlt 1. A posltlve terminal 9 is connected to the
power supply terminal 6 when the power unlt 2 ls mounted to
the main unit 1. A negative terminal 10 is connected to the
ground terminal 7 when the power unit 2 is mounted to the
main unlt 1.
The operatlon wlll now be descrlbed. When the power
unit 2 ls mounted to the main unlt 1, the positive terminal
9 and the negative termlnals 10 o~ the power unit 2 are
respectively connected to the power supply terminal 6 and
the ground terminal 7 of the main unlt 1. Power ls thereby
supplied from the battery 8 in the power unit 2 to the power
circult 5 in the maln unlt 1, and the portable radio
equipment is ready to operate.
In this state, when the portable radlo equlpment is
turned on and it ls brought to a connected state in whlch
communication link has been estsblished and speech
communication is possible, the microphone 4 receives
transmit speech of the user or the operator, and inputs it
to the transmit audio circult 3. The transmit audio circult
3 modulates the speech slgnal and sends the modulated signal
to the transmitter section.
Since the prior-art radio equipment is configured as
described above, size reduction of the radio equipment is
accompanied wlth slze reduction of the main unit 1, and the
distance between the microphone 4 and a ear piece
(earphone), not shown, is decreased, so that user feels
uneasy in using the radlo equipment.
204973~
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present lnvention has been made to solve the
problems described above, and lts ob~ect is to enable the
dlstance between the mlcrophone and the ear piece to be
changed and to ellmlnate the uneaslness ln use of the radlo
equipment.
In a portable radio equipment accordlng to the present
lnvention, the power unit which can be mounted to and
removed from the main unlt ls ln the form of a ~lrst power
unlt having a power source and a short-circuitlng member for
connectlng the first microphone of the radio equipment maln
unit to the transmit audlo clrcuit, and a second power unlt
having a power source and a second mlcrophone connected to
the transmit audio clrcuit in the main unit, and the flrst
and the second power unlts are selectively used dependlng on
the clrcumstance.
With the portable radlo equlpment accordlng to the
lnventlon, where the slze reductlon ls of a prlmary
lmportance, the first power unit ls mounted to the maln
unlt, and the flrst mlcrophone whlch ls bullt ln ls
connected to the transmlt audlo clrcult ln the maln unlt,
whlle where the facillty in use ls of a prlmary importance,
the second power unlt ls mounted to the maln unlt, and the
second microphone withln the second power unlt ls connected
to the transmit audlo clrcult ln the maln unlt. In thls
way, the dlstance between the mlcrophone and the ear plece
2049735
can be modified, and the uneasiness felt by the user during
operation is eliminated.
Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention
relates to portable radio equipment, comprising: a radio
equipment main unit (1) containing a transmit audio circuit
(3) modulating a transmission speech signal and sending it
to a transmitter section; a first microphone (4) into which
speech is input for generating the transmission speech
signal; and a power circuit (5) receiving power and
distributing the power within the main unit; a first power
unit (11) structured so that it can be mounted to and
removed from the radio equipment main unit, and containing a
short-circuiting member (12) connecting, when said first
power unit is mounted to the radio equipment main unit, said
first microphone to said transmit audio circuit; and a power
source (8A) providing, when said first power unit is mounted
to the radio equipment main unit, power to said power
circuit; and a second power unit (15) structured so that it
can be mounted to and removed from said radio equipment main
unit, and containing a second microphone (16) for generating
said transmission speech signal in response to inputted
speech, connected to said transmit audio circuit when said
second power unit is mounted to said radio equipment main
unit, and a power source (8B) providing power to said power
circuit, when said second power unit is mounted to the radio
equipment main unit; each of said first power unit and said
second power unit being selectively mountable to said radio
~ ' F
2049735
equipment main unit to the exclusion of the other power
unit.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention
will become apparent from the detailed description given
hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the
detailed description and specific examples, while indicating
preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of
illustration only, since various changes and modifications
within the spirit and scope of the invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed
description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An embodiment of the invention will now be described
with reference to figures. Figure lA and Figure lB are
4a
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10818
circuit diagrams showing a portable radio equipment
according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 2A and
Figure 2B are external views thereof. Fig. lA and Fig. 2A
show a case in which a first power unit is mounted to the
radio equipment main unit, and Fig. lB and Fig. 2B show a
case in which a second power unit is mounted to the main
unit.
In these figures, members identical or corresponding to
those in Fig. 5 are given identical reference numerals, and
their description is omitted.
In the respective figures, a portable radio equipment
comprises a main unit 1 containing a transmit audio circuit
3, a first microphone 4, a power circuit 5, a power terminal
6 and a ground terminal 7.
The portable radio equipment further comprises a first
power unit 11 so configured that it can be mounted to and
removed from the main unit 1. The first power unit contains
a battery 8A used as a power source, a positive terminal 9A,
a negative terminal lOA, a short-circuiting member 12
disposed in the first power unit 11, and connecting the
first microphone 4 to the transmit audio circuit 3 when the
first power unit 11 is mounted to the main unit 1. The
first power unit 11 further comprises terminals 13A and 14A
connected to the short-circuiting member 12. The first
power unit 11 differs from the conventional power unit 2 in
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10818
that it has the short-circuiting member 12 and the terminals
13A and 14A.
The portable radio equipment further comprises a second
power unit 15 so configured that it can be mounted to and
removed from the main unit 1. The second power unit 15
contains a battery 8B used as a power source, a second
microphone 16 disposed in the second power unit 15 and
connected to the transmit audio circuit 3 when the second
power unit 15 is mounted to the main unit 1. The second
power unit 15 further comprises a terminal 17B connected to
the second microphone 16. The second power unit 15 differs
from the conventional power unit 2 in that it has the second
microphone 16 and the terminal 17B.
The main unit 1 further comprises a terminal 18
connected to the input of the transmit audio circuit 3 in
the main unit 1, and connected to the terminal 13A when the
first power unit 11 is mounted and connected to the terminal
17B when the second power unit 15 is mounted. The main unit
1 further comprises a terminal 19 which is connected to the
first microphone 4, and which is connected to the terminal
14A when the first power unit 11 is mounted, and which is
made open or floating when the second power unit 15 is
mounted. The main unit 1 differs from the conventional one
in that the transmit audio circuit 3 and the first
microphone 4 are connected to the respective terminals 18 or
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19, and not connected directly.
Referring now to Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B, the main unit 1
is has a generally rectangular housing, and having a
generally flat front surface la, a generally flat rear
surface lb parallel with opposite to the front surface la, a
pair of generally flat side surfaces lc (being on the side
seen) and ld (being on the side not seen) which connect the
front and the rear surfaces la and lb, and are orthogonal to
the front and the rear surfaces la and lb, and are parallel
with and opposite to each other. The main unit 1 further
has a generally flat top surface le orthogonal to the front,
the rear and the side surfaces la to ld and connecting them
together. The main unit 1 further has a bottom surface lf
which is parallel with the top surface le.
The front surface la has an elevated part lh near the
edge of the top surface le, and the elevated part lh is
provided with an opening 22 communicating with a ear piece
30 contained in the housing of the main unit 1.
The front surface la also has a central part li where
numerical keys and function keys conventionally provided on
a portable radio equipment are provided.
The front surface la also has a bottom part 1~ near the
edge of the bottom surface lf where another opening 20 for
communication with the first microphone 4 (Fig. lA, Fig. lB)
contained in the housing of the main unit 1 is provided.
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The part near the edge ~olning the rear surface lb and
the bottom surface lf is cut away to form a cut-away portion
lk defined by an indented rear surface part lm and an
intended bottom surface part ln. The terminals 6, 7, 18 and
19 in Fig. lA and Fig. lB are provided on the indented rear
surface part lm or the indented bottom surface part ln.
When the first power unit 11 or the second power unit 15 is
mounted to the main unit 1, it is fitted (entirely or
partially) in the cut-away portion lk.
The first power unit 11 also has a generally
rectangular housing and has a front surface lla and a rear
surface llb parallel with and opposite to each other, side
surfaces llc and lld connecting the front and the rear
surfaces lla and llb, parallel with and opposite to each
other and orthogonal to the front surface lla and the rear
surface llb, a top surface lle and a bottom surface llf
parallel with and opposite to each other, and orthogonal to
the front, the rear and the side surfaces lla to lld. The
terminals 9A, lOA, 13A and 14A in Fig. lA are provided on
the front surface lla or the top surface lle.
When, the first power unit 11 is mounted to the main
unit 1, it is fitted in the cut-away portion lk, the front
surface lla is in abutment with the indented rear surface
part lk and the top surface lle is in abutment with the
indented bottom surface ln, the rear surface llb, the side
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_ 10818
surfaces llc and lld and the bottom surface llf are
substantially flush with the rear surface lb, the slde
surfaces lc and ld and the bottom surface lf, and the
terminal 9A, lOA, 13A and 14A on the first power unit 11 are
brought into contact with the terminals 6, 7, 18 and 19 to
establish electrical connection.
The second power unit 15 also has a generally
rectangular housing and has a front surface 15a and a.rear
surface 15b parallel with and opposite to each other, side
surfaces 15c and 15d connecting the front and the rear
surfaces 15a and 15b, parallel with and opposite to each
other and orthogonal to the front surface 15a and the rear
surface 15b, a top surface 15e and a bottom surface lSf
parallel with and opposite to each other, and orthogonal to
the front, the rear and the side surfaces 15a to 15d.
The part near the edge ~oining the front surface 15a
and the top surface 15e is cut away to form a cut-away
portion 15k defined by an indented front surface part 15m
and an intended bottom surface part 15n. The terminals 9B,
lOB and 17B in Fig. lB are provided on the indented front
surface part 15m or the indented top surface part 15e.
When, the second power unit 15 is mounted to the main
unit 1, part near the top surface 15e, forming a pro~ection,
is fitted in the cut-away portion lk, the indented front
surface part 15m is in abutment with the indented rear
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~ 10818
surface part lk and the top surface 15e is in abutment with
the indented bottom surface ln, and the indented top surface
15n is proximate to the bottom surface lf, and the front
surface 15a, the rear surface 15b and the side surfaces 15c
and 15d are substantially flush with the front surface la,
the rear surface lb and the side surfaces lc and ld, and the
termlnal 9B, lOB and 17B on the second power unit 15 are
brought into contact with the terminals 6, 7 and 18 to
establish electrical connection. The terminal 19 on the
main unit 1 is not connected and is open, so that the first
microphone 4 is disconnected.
Provided on the front surface 15a of the second power
unit 15, near the edge of the bottom surface 15f, is an
opening 21 communicated with the second microphone 16
contained in the second main unit 15.
As will be seen, the distance between the opening 22
and the opening 21 is greater than the distance between the
opening 22 and the opening 20, and it is easier in use if
the second power unit 15 is mounted to the main unit 1 and
the second microphone 16 communicated with the opening 21 is
operative.
The operation will now be described. When the first
power unit 11 is mounted to the main unit l, as in the
conventional arrangement, the power terminal 6 and the
ground terminal 7 of the main unit 1 are connected to the
20~9735
_ 10818
positlve terminal 9A and the negative terminal lOA of the
power unit 2, and the terminals 18 and 19 of the main unit 1
are connected to the terminals 13A and 14A of the first
power unit 11. As a result, the power circuit 5 is fed from
the battery 8A, and the first microphone 4 is connected via
the short-circuiting member 12 to the transmit audio circuit
3, and the portable radio equipment is in a state in which
it can be used.
In the state in which use is possible, if the portable
radio equipment is turned on, and is brought to a connected
state, as in the prior art, the transmit speech from the
first microphone 4 is entered into the transmit audio
circuit 3, which modulates the transmit speech signal and
sends the modulated signal to the transmitter section.
The advantage in the use of the first power unit is
that the size of the entire equipment is small.
When the second power unit 15 is mounted to the main
unit 1, the second microphone 16 within the second power
unit 15 is connected via the terminals 17B and 18 to the
transmit audio circuit 3 within the main unit 1. The first
microphone 4 is then open at the terminal 19 and is in a
state in which it cannot be used. Connected to the power
terminal 6 and the ground terminal 7 of the maln unit 1 are
the positive terminal 9B and the negative terminal lOB-of
the second power unit 15, so the power circuit 5 in the main
11
2049~35
10818
unit 1 is fed from the battery 8B, and the portable radio
equipment ls in a state in which it can be used.
If, in this state, the portable radio equipment is
turned on and is brought to a connected state, the second
microphone 16 receives the transmit speech of the user,
which is then sent via the terminals 17B and 18 to the
transmit audio terminal 3, and is sent to the transmitter
section.
The advantage in the use of the second power supply is
that the distance between the opening ~1 for the second
microphone and the opening 22 for the ear piece 30 is
greater and can optimized to facilitate the use of the
equipment.
In the above embodiment, a battery is used as the power
source, but power unit may be of such a construction which
can be connected to an external power supply, e.g., from an
mobile power supply, and has a voltage converter receiving
the external power supply and producing a power of a desired
voltage. Fig. 3 shows such an embodiment. In the figure, a
voltage converter 23 is used as a power source, and converts
the voltage of an external power supply into the voltage
corresponding to the output of the battery in the above
embodiment, and provides the output across the positive
terminal 9B and the negative terminal lOB. In Fig. 3, only
the second power unit 15 is shown, but the first power unit
12
204973S
10818
11 may be configured similarly.
In the above embodiment, the microphone 4 and the
terminal 19 in the main unit 1 are connected directly. But
an amplifier for ad~usting the speech level may be-inserted.
Fig. 4 shows such an embodiment. In the figure, an
amplifier 24 is inserted for ad~usting the speech level. By
inserting the amplifier 24, any difference in the speech
output level due to the difference between the distance from
the mouth of the user to the first microphone 4 and the
distance from the mouth of the user to the second microphone
16 can be compensated for, and the level of the input to the
transmit audio circuit 3 can be made unchanged despite the
difference between the distance from the mouth of the user
to the first microphone and the distance from the mouth of
the user to the second microphone.
Similarly, other terminals and the parts inside the
housings of the main unit 1, the first power unit 11 and the
second power unit 15 may be connected indirectly, via
members not shown.
As has been described, according to the invention, the
first power unit having the short-circuiting member for
connecting the first microphone to the transmit audio
circuit, and the second power unit having the second
microphone connected to the transmit audio circuit are
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- 10818
provlded, and are used selectively depending on the
particular circumstance. Where the size reduction is of a
primary importance, the first power unit can be mounted,
while where the facility in use ls of a primary importance,
the second power unit can be mounted. The distance between
the microphone and the ear piece can be changed depending to
suite the preference of the user, and the uneasiness in use
can be eliminated.
14
